Improved harness-saddle



N. PETERS, PHOTO-VUTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D Cv Nrrn 'rares ROBERT SPENCER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED HARNESSSADDLE.

panying drawings, making a part of this speci` iication, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal central section of my invention, taken in the line rr as, Fig. 3.

' Fig. 2 is a transverse section of thesame,taken in the line y y, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a transversesection of thc same, taken in the line .e e, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in constructing 'the saddle of two wooden bearings connected at their upper ends by a metal spring which is strengthened or supported by an elastic piece of wood and having the upper surfaces of the wooden bearings grooved in suoli a manner as to receive the covering` of the saddle, as hereinafter fully shown and described.

The object of the invention is to obtain a harness-saddle which will adapt itself to the back of the animal and lit snugly or properly thereon and at the same time admit of being manufactured at a comparatively low price and form a superior piece of work for rstclass harnesses.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A A represent the bearings of the saddle, which are constructed of wood and connected at their upper ends by an elastic curved metal plate, B, the ends of which are secured to the bearings by bolts a, as shown clearly in Fig. l. Directly underneath the plate B there is placed an elastic strip of wood, C, the endsof which are inserted in recesses b in the upper ends of the bearings. This wooden strip O serves to support and strengthen the elastic metal plate B, and also serves as a means to secure the leather covering over the plate B, as the leather strips a, to which the covering is stitched, are tacked to the edges of the strip C. (See Fig. 2.)

I prefer to make the strip O of wood because it is a light and cheap material, as well as elastic, but it is obvious that any other substance that possesses these qualities might be substituted-as, for example, stiff leather, gutta'percha, or rubber.

The lower parts of the wooden bearings A at their outer surfaces are provided each with a recess,F, to receive the leathers or side bands, G. (See Fig. l.) These recesses are suiiiciently deep' to admit of the upper surfaces of the bands G being iiush with the outer surfaces of the bearings and allow the covering or housing E to extend down or lap over their upper ends, thereby forming a neat finish and admitting of thescrews t passing through the housing and bands. 'The leathers or side bands G are supported by extensions ax, formed by prolonging the bearings A below the point which strictly forms a part of the saddle-tree, and these extensions maybe narrower than the other parts of the bearings. In fact, they do not require to be much wider than the leathers or bands G.

D represents the check rein-hook, the shank b of which passes vertically through the elastic plate B and wooden strip C, and is secured by a nut, c, on its lower end.

The wooden bearings A A are so formed as to require no padding or stuffing. They are simply covered with cloth or,felt, and this is covered with leather, or the cloth or felt may be omitted and the bearings directly covered with leather d, the edges of which are stitched to the leather strips a, inserted in the grooves or recesses c in the upper surfaces of the bearings A A, one at each side, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The leather strips a may be tacked to the bearings Aor otherwise secured to them, and a leather binding, f, is stitched over the edges of the covering d and bent down at its upper part to form a groove at each side of the bearings to admit of the leather housing E being inserted between the binding, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The housing E is secured in proper position by the shanks g of the terrets F F, which ,pass through the housing andinto the wooden bearings, the shoulders h of the shanks bearing on the housing, as shown clearly in Fig. l. Screws it' may also pass through Y the housing near its ends and into the bearings.

By this mode of construction several ad'- eases In the first place, an exceedingly light saddle is obtained, and one that will adapt itself to the form of the back of the animal to which` itis applied, as the elastic plate B admits' VofV 1plate B, so that the covering of the saddle will have a uniform appearance throughout.

Third, castings of all kinds are dispensed with, which render a saddle heavy and cumbersome.

Fourth, the saddle may be constructed at a comparatively small cost, the labor being but trifling and not requiring the most skillful hands in order to produce perfect work.

Another important advantage myinventiou possesses is that the wooden bearings A A may be carved out in the precise form desired, so that no time or labor is expended in shaping or finishing the saddle. The ordinary saddles have the proper form given them by the nisher, the shape being due to stuffing and padding, and a symmetrical saddle is only obtained by asuperior, tasty workman; Whereas by my improvement the form or shape of the saddle is not due to stuffing and padding, but to the wooden bearings A A, which, when cut out in proper form, (from a patterm) require only to bc covered with leather in order to produce a finished piece of work. 'Ihe pad ding hitherto alluded to in my invention is at the under side of the bearings, and is designed only to protect the back of the animal and not to add in any degree in giving form or shape to the saddle.

I am aware that harness-saddles have been constructed with springs; but they have all, so far as I am aware, been placed below the terrets, thereby only partially rendering the saddle yielding or elastic and not allowing it to conform perfectly to the back of theanimal. I am also aware that bearings have been connected at their upper ends by rigid curved iron bars to serve as a connection only and without aview of rendering the saddle adjustable. These plans differ essentially from mine, are more complicated, and are not in very general use. Y

I do not claim, broadly, an adjustable saddle irrespective of the construction and ar-` rangement of the parts herein shown and described; but,

Having thus described my invcntion,what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the bearings A A when constructed of wood and covered with felt or other fabric so as to do away with the usual method of stuffing, of the elastic metallic plate B and the elastic strip C, or either of them, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.

ROBT. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

JAMEs LAIRD, RICHARDSON GAWLEY. 

